Kindness Wall Brings Bullying? No Way! Week to Life
St Francis Xavier Primary School (Ballarat East) students have been spreading positivity and creativity as part of Bullying? No Way! Week, with their vibrant Kindness Wall growing each day.
During lunchtime, students have enthusiastically come together to colour, create, share ideas and take turns adding their special kindness-themed pictures to the display. The collaborative project has encouraged students to reflect on the importance of inclusion, respect and caring for others.
As the Kindness Wall continues to come to life, it serves as a colourful reminder that everyone belongs and everyone matters. Through their artwork and acts of cooperation, students are demonstrating how even the smallest acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
The initiative reflects the spirit of Bullying? No Way! Week and St Francis Xavier's commitment to fostering a welcoming and supportive school community where every student feels valued and connected.
[Photos sourced from Facebook Page of St Francis Xavier Primary School]
Get Ready for Lumen's School of Rock!
The excitement is building at Lumen Christi Primary School, Delacombe, as students in Years 3 and 4 prepare to take to the stage for their upcoming School of Rock concert.
After weeks of rehearsals and hard work, students are eager to showcase their musical talents, creativity and performance skills in what promises to be an entertaining and memorable event for the school community.
Can't wait for the big show? Take a sneak peek at what's in store by watching the students in action here: Lumen's School of Rock sneak peek
We wish all performers the very best as they get ready to rock the stage!
[Content sourced from the Facebook Page of Lumen Christi Primary School]
Collaborative Professional Learning with Michael Minas
Staff from St Patrick's School (Nhill) and St Mary's Primary School (Warracknabeal) came together for a professional development day with renowned mathematics guru, Michael Minas.
They spent the day focusing on lesson structure, engaging games, concepts and the teaching and learning of Mathematics.
The whole day was very interactive and staff were able to take away some wonderful ideas for implementing within their classes to help make maths lessons even more engaging for students.
Michael Minas is the Director of Love Maths and has worked in education for over 25 years, providing support and guidance to thousands of educators during this time.
In 2018, Michael’s ability to shape learning was recognised when he won a CHOOSEMATHS Teaching Excellence Award. He presents at a variety of conferences both within Australia and internationally.
Staff from both schools were very fortunate to spend the day with such an inspiring Maths consultant and would highly recommend Michael to any schools looking to engage him in a professional learning day.
Article and photos provided by: Kingsley Dalgleish | Principal at St Patrick's School (Nhill)
SWPBS School Showcase - Congratulations St Pius X
Staff from St Joseph's Primary School (Warrnambool), St Joseph's Primary School (Penshurst) and some of DOBCEL staff had the privilege of being guided through St Pius X's showcase of their work in strengthening Tier 1 SWPBS processes and practices.
Emma, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader (MHWL), shared the school's SWPBS implementation journey and highlighted significant growth in the Tiered Fidelity Inventory (TFI), demonstrating improvement from 30% to 80%. This achievement reflects the school's strong commitment to developing consistent, evidence-based systems that support positive student behaviour and wellbeing.
Thank you so much for showcasing your school's work, St Pius X . It was extremely informative and inspiring. The opportunity to observe your systems and hear about your implementation journey provided valuable insights for participating schools.
The work being undertaken is clearly having a significant impact on both staff wellbeing and positive student behaviour outcomes. Your openness in sharing strategies, challenges, and successes was greatly appreciated and will support other schools in their ongoing SWPBS development.
[Article and photo provided by: Anne Ruddell | SEO Student Wellbeing (DOBCEL)]
An open door to learning
At Damascus College, the belief that learning is lifelong extends well beyond our students.
It is reflected in the opportunities provided for staff to continue to grow as educators and leaders – to step beyond what is familiar, experience something new, deepen their understanding and bring that learning back to the College community.
This commitment is strongly supported by Principal Steven Mifsud, who recognises that investing in the learning and formation of staff is an investment in the future of Damascus College and, importantly, in the experience of the young people they lead and teach.
This month, three Damascus leaders have embraced one such opportunity. Naomi Olthof, Assistant Principal – Learning and Teaching; Jennifer Henderson, Head of Curriculum and Assessment and Science and VCE Biology teacher; and Gavin Webb, Head of Middle School, are currently in Ireland participating in the Mercy Pilgrimage, In the Footsteps of Catherine McAuley.
The pilgrimage has taken them to Baggot Street in Dublin, home of the first House of Mercy, where they have stepped through its iconic red doors – doors that have become a powerful symbol of welcome, hospitality and opportunity across the Mercy tradition.
For Steven, supporting staff to undertake experiences such as the Mercy Pilgrimage is about much more than professional development. It is about creating space for people to reflect on why they do what they do, to better understand the tradition that has shaped Damascus and to consider how that story remains relevant to contemporary Catholic education.
For Naomi, Jen and Gavin, it is an opportunity to experience the Mercy story in the places where it began and to explore what Catherine McAuley's legacy means for their own leadership, teaching and relationships with students today.
Importantly, the learning does not end when the pilgrimage does.
The experiences, conversations and reflections they bring home will become part of the collective learning of Damascus – shared with colleagues and translated into the way we continue to welcome, educate, challenge and support our students.
There is something particularly fitting about seeing three Damascus educators standing at the red doors of Baggot Street.
More than two centuries after they first opened, those doors continue to invite people to enter, learn and grow.
Through Steven's commitment to investing in his people, Damascus staff are being encouraged to do exactly that – and then to hold the door open for others.
[Content and photos provided by Korina Hegert, Marketing & Communications Manager | Damascus College]
Tiny Town: Building a Community Where Everyone Thrives in St Michael's Primary School Daylesford
Our Year 6 students have been embracing an exciting and innovative learning experience through the creation of their very own Tiny Town. Each student has developed a unique business model, with these individual businesses coming together to form a thriving community.
Each week, students are presented with a range of real-world dilemmas that challenge them to think critically, collaborate with others and develop creative solutions. Recently, the students faced an unexpected crisis when the cows from Irving’s Farm escaped and began running rampant through the town!
Rather than simply focusing on solving the immediate problem, students were challenged to consider how their decisions could support the wellbeing of the entire community. Drawing on the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, particularly the importance of community, human dignity and the common good, students considered how each business could continue to thrive while also supporting those experiencing hardship.
Working collaboratively, students developed a range of innovative ideas and solutions. They had to listen to different perspectives, negotiate, problem-solve and consider the consequences of their decisions.
This hands-on learning experience is helping our students understand that successful communities are built when people look beyond themselves and work together to raise others up. Through Tiny Town, our Year 6 students are developing valuable skills in critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and decision-making, while also putting our Catholic values into action.
It has been wonderful to see our students embrace the challenges presented to them and recognise that, just like in a real community, we all have a role to play in helping one another thrive.
[Content and photo shared by Tim Hogan, Principal at St Michael's Primary School Daylesford]
Science Week at Emmanuel College Warrnambool
Science Week took place this week, with daily science quizzes, challenges and activities running each lunchtime in the Library. Students had the chance to get involved in a range of fun, hands-on activities, including matching different types of seeds and tasting a variety of fruits, designing and making 3D seed models before testing how far they could fly, and growing seeds under different conditions to investigate which conditions were most effective for germination and growth.
Our Year 7 students also experienced a live science presentation on stage, bringing the wonder, energy and excitement of science to life. It was a great week of celebrating all things science!